Connecting Generations with Music
Monday, May 14, 2012
By: Clarissa Louw

Discover how music acts as a bridge to generations and contributes to early learning in Lehigh and Northampton Counties

I teach Music Together Preschool at Spring Garden Children's Center, Easton. Pat Hunter, Executive Director at Spring Garden Children's Center, and I wanted to do an inter-generational lesson for the Music Together program during the Week of the Young Child. (Music Together Preschool is a ten week curriculum that helps children achieve basic music competence.)

Since Spring Garden Children's Center shares the building with the Spring Garden Senior Center, we had the perfect opportunity to walk the kids over and run a class with the ladies.

The preschool teachers, Sharon Miller and Amita Patel, and I brought a class of three and four year olds to the senior center. I wasn't sure how the lesson would go, or whether the ladies would be interested in singing along or just observing. The children sat in a circle, surrounded by the seniors, who observed quietly from their tables. The seniors seemed to enjoy watching the children, but were hesitant to sing along. However, when we started singing the old folk tune, "I've Been Working on the Railroad", many of the women started to chime in. I encouraged them to sing loudly as this old song was new to these kids. They needed to show the children how it was done, especially since folk tunes are disappearing from modern music.

In addition to the Music Together curriculum, I added some Big Band music, Les Paul's Steel Guitar Rag, and ended on Bing Crosby's, It's Been a Long, Long Time. The purpose was not only to encourage the seniors participate, but to demonstrate that they play an important role in passing on their generation's music to these young children, most of whom had never heard these songs. The playlist was more effective than I could have ever imagined.

When Benny Goodman's orchestra started to play, several eager ladies got up and showed the kids how to cut a rug with Sing, Sing, Sing. I was reminded to never underestimate the power that music holds over you, especially the songs that define your generation. When it was time for instrumental music, the seniors voiced their agreement with the role of Les Paul's influence on rock and roll. Many decided to help the kids keep the beat to Steel Guitar Rag, by tapping along with a percussion instrument.

I always close the Music Together sessions with a lullaby. This time, I had a roomful of doting grandmothers who made the last song magical. The lights went out, the children lay down, and I turned on Bing Crosby. Bing crooned, "Kiss me once, kiss me twice, and kiss me once again". The ladies responded sweetly in unision, "It's been a long, long time". It was a beautiful moment that embodied the power of passing one's music on to the next generation. I hope that we have many more opportunities to bring together the children and the seniors.

I encourage early childhood educators everywhere to partner with the older generations. Take advantage of their precious resource of knowledge and experience and allow them to share it with your children. in return, the children will share their pure delight of enjoying music.

Note:  Spring Garden Children's Center in Easton is a Keystone STARS program.